Chris Glantz, President NSPS YSNThe NSPS Young Surveyors Network announces the Second Annual Student Resume Contest. The winner of the contest will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the 2018 NSPS Spring Meeting, February 20-22, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Last year we had eight resumes, and this year we're hoping for more. We need your help to get the word out to the students in the surveying and geomatics curriculum.

NSPSHas there ever been any discussion about having the Title Company certify its report to the Surveyor? It is obvious, at least to me, that if a Surveyor certifies a survey to a title company, it ends up paying a claim because it insured an erroneous condition depicted on the survey, and the title company would have a claim. The certification, it seems to me, is merely a statement that the Surveyor provides "pre-acknowledging" its liability to the Title Company if an error on the survey causes a loss to the title company.

Given that, isn't the reciprocal situation a perfect analogy? What if a Surveyor misses an easement because it was not disclosed in the title report? What if that omission turns into a claim, and worse, a judgment against the Surveyor? Doesn't the title company have a responsibility to the Surveyor? I expect they will say NO, but it does not make sense. Shouldn't the title company "pre-acknowledge" its responsibility to the Surveyor? READ MORE

Joe Dolan, PLS, NSPS Foundation ChairWell Thanksgiving is past and Christmas will be here before we know it! I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! During this Holiday Season remember that Christmas and Hanukah are celebrations of joy and giving. We acknowledge family, those who have served us by delivering our mail and newspapers, along with many others. This year we have many of our fellow professionals to think of. Those who are trying to recover from three major Hurricanes and the Western Wildfires and catastrophic medical issues!

In previous Foundation Corner articles I told you I anticipated that grant requests would continue to come in long after the headlines faded. That is proving to be true. Yesterday I received another grant request from Texas. That request was less than two weeks after the last request and they will keep coming! As victims of these natural disasters start to recover we will be receiving more grant requests.

I am asking all of you to remember our brothers and sisters this Christmas. Please give to help them recover.READ MORE

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PRODUCT SHOWCASE

PropLogix needs surveyors like you!We help thousands of real estate closers across the country each month. We need surveyors everywhere to join our network to provide one of the most crucial pieces of due diligence. We bring you the business, never white label your work, and you get paid. Read more about it.

NSPSThe Small Business Administration (SBA) has endorsed the NSPS campaign for repeal of AAM 212, the controversial Obama Administration policy that defined members of survey crews as "laborers and mechanics" under the Davis-Bacon Act. After hearing from numerous surveyors during town hall meetings across the nation, the SBA Office of Chief Counsel for Advocacy sent a letter to the Secretary of Labor recommending several changes in regulations, including repeal of AAM 212. For complete information in the issue, visit a special section of the NSPS website.

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Kathleen Kurland, Executive Director
CALS held a celebration recognizing its 50th anniversary at the Sheraton Hotel, Rocky Hill, CT, on November 3-4, 2017. NSPS President Jan Fokens (pictured, at right) attended and presented to CALS President Wayne Zirolli (left) a very nice plaque acknowledging the milestone.

NSPS
As 2017 draws to a close, we look toward the New Year, and what may lie ahead, in both or personal lives and our work as Professional Surveyors. Join Lisa Isom as she discusses with host Curt Sumner what is new regarding insurance for our companies, employees, families, etc. Lisa is the principle of Assurance Risk Managers, Inc. in Colorado. ARM-I manages the NSPS Insurance Program.

To listen to archives of previous shows, visit americaswebradio.com/nsps-radio-hour. Archives for each show are typically available for listening within a few days after the show airs.

KAPS
Prints of Professions, Inc. (an art publishing company) and the Kentucky Association of Professional Surveyors (KAPS), working cooperatively, have made available a beautiful art print which can be personalized, matted, and framed. The print is reflective of the heritage of the surveying profession from the earliest years of our nation. Learn more about the print and how to order.

Become a Certified Survey Technician (CST)No matter what the future holds, prepare to meet challenges head on. Future-proof your resume by becoming a Certified Survey Technician (CST). This unique four-level certification program indicates official recognition by NSPS that a person can perform surveying tasks at a specific technical level.

Show what you can do! Decide between the field or office track. Visit www.nsps.us.com for details.

Did you know there is an abundance of information about the CST Program on the NSPS website?

xyHtThe year of the planned update of the U.S. national spatial reference system, 2022, looms large on the horizon and is being anticipated by the geospatial communities with both anxiety and excitement. The question, "Why is the U.S. realigning its geodetic references with the global framework?" should perhaps be, "Why did it take us so long?"READ MORE

GPS WorldThe United States and China have negotiated compatible signal characteristics that will both protect and enhance service for users of the U.S. GPS and Chinese BeiDou constellations.
The achievement resulted from several years of discussions between U.S. and Chinese GNSS experts. The consensus to make the systems compatible and interoperable at the user level will mean better service for users of both systems worldwide.READ MORE

GIM InternationalOpen data is available from the majority of European National Mapping, Cadastral and Land Registration Authorities, a new survey has found. Research by the Open European Location Services Project reveals that 98% of respondents provide at least some of their data free of charge. Of these, 37% make all their data available under an open license. READ MORE

Inside GNSS The Army is kicking off a wide-ranging, five-year research effort to develop new position, navigation and timing technologies for battlefield use.
The goal is to overcome technical barriers in a wide range of areas and military officials are offering to fund multiple, and even multi-phase, cost-plus-fixed-fee efforts to do that. The work may range from studies and analysis to development work that results in the production of a prototype-style deliverable or breadboard and/or a demonstration. READ MORE